streetferret | Application for High Seas

[Name]: Sker
[Age]: Over 18
[Contacts]:
♦ DW:

sker
♦ AIM: --
♦ Plurk:

skericide
[Timezone]: CST
[Other Characters]: None.

[Name]: Mako
[Canon]: The Legend of Korra
[Age]: 19
[Gender]: Male
[Canon Point]: Post Book 2

[History]: http://avatar.wikia.com/wiki/Mako

[Personality]:
When we first get to see Mako in the second episode of The Legend of Korra, what we see is a focused, collected, and athletic jerkface. All three of those traits really stay with him for the rest of the series. Especially the jerkface part. His focus comes from him being the one in charge of making sure both he and his brother, Bolin, have food to eat along with a roof over their head. The constant need for him to be the ‘big brother’ (mother hen really) and look after his younger sibling has instilled a drive of ignoring any distractions between him and his goal, which is usually a necessity. That has since spread out to other aspects, such as where he keeps his eye on victory in his pro-bending matches, or when he later becomes a beat cop in Book Two: Spirits and doggedly follows a hunch to a trail of clues that every other officer chided him for. He experiences a great payoff in being promoted to a detective for his unshakable determination.

Collected is the other core trait in Mako. Being a firebender means there’s an inner source in the bender’s spirit, or chi, that is alight with passion. However, that source can overcome those who cannot control it and that passion can easily be tainted with anger and eventually hate. For Mako, this really came from losing his parents when he was eight and becoming the caretaker of his brother, younger by two years. A boisterous Bolin helped to keep his temper in check. Other times we see this come into play is when the Fire Ferret’s are facing the White Falls Wolfbats in the pro-bending finals and Korra wants to play dirty since the Wolfbats are, but Mako reminds her that the referees are looking for any foul to use against the ferrets; thus the only way to win is to play by the rules. When infiltrating Amon’s rally, Korra (again) wants to simply do a frontal assault to rescue Bolin from the Equalists; where Mako keeps his cool after seeing his brother and thinks of a plan to save Bolin without having to fight a small army of the chi blockers.

One of Mako’s most glaring flaws is his horrible method of handling relationships. He does develop feelings for her after they win their first match, but mentions nothing of it and instead just stares off at Air Temple Island where he knows Korra is. Later when he meets Asami in a very unconventional way, he’s seen talking to Bolin about Korra and assumes that his brother was referring to the firebender’s possible pursuit of a relationship with and even contemplates going for Asami because she’s the more practical choice. All the while, Bolin meant himself pursuing Korra. When the Avatar surprised him by planting a kiss, Mako reciprocated and the ensuing fallout was the breaking of Bolin’s heart, who witnessed the whole thing. And what does jerkface Mako do? Blame it on Korra (which is half true) and she turns it remind him that he kissed her back (the other half of the truth). There is some improvement in this area in Book Two when it’s Asami who suddenly kisses him (THIS STUFF HAPPENS TO HIM, OKAY? idek) and Mako doesn’t not reciprocate, instead he keeps his cool (That collectedness coming to his rescue) and goes to find who stole from her company. (Half of that focus and the other half just running away to clear his head)

But he’s still a jerk. As can be seen when he interrupts Chief Beifong’s interrogation, a huge no-no from a rookie beat cop, without any apology to showcase his evidence to a possible witness to a crime simply to prove that his trail of clues isn’t something to be ignored. (Which backfires horribly, w2g MAY-KO) Another instance is when Team Avatar arrives back from the Southern Water Tribe and Bolin asks Mako what he should after the other three decide their courses of action, to which Mako simply says “I don’t know, figure something out.” in a very unconcerned tone. (Total jerk)

In relation to Mako’s collected ‘cool-under-fire’ attitude is the rare instances where he can’t keep his cool. When he confronts Korra about using Bolin simply to get back at him, Korra’s stubborn insistence that he likes her (which he does, so tsun) pushes him over the line and he yells back; his temper matching hers when they slammed separate doors to the arena shut. Another time, and a consistent trigger, is his protectiveness of Korra. When Amon bloodbent Korra, he unleashed a fierce flurry of fire; which was stopped rather quickly by Amon. When he believed that Korra was kidnapped by chi blockers, he viciously threatened one of them with firebending as a form of interrogation. A tactic he similarly used on a Triple Threat Triad member in Book Two, only it was a knife made of fire held against their neck, though this was to find out just who kept sabotaging Asami’s shipments.

There is also the brooding aspect of Mako that’s littered here and there throughout the show. One of the main things that brings out of Mako is talk of his parents, to which his only belonging of theirs is his father’s red scarf. To him it is so much more and his insistence on no one taking his scarf is absolute; usually met with a very hard glare. (The only exception to this so far has been Korra, whom he had no problems letting wear it as part of a disguise.) However, it is something he rarely brings up on his and only does so when someone asks. (Someone he would trust in telling, such as Korra or Asami)

This doesn’t mean Mako’s without his own dorkiness. (Bolin didn’t get all of it) One of his favorite things to do after getting a job as a police officer was running by one-liners (HORRIBLE ONES I MIGHT ADD) by his girlfriend Korra. (“Looks like you guys should put more 'try' in triad.” Mako, pls.)

Lastly, there is love. It may not seem it early on in Book One, but it becomes strongly apparent towards the end and outright said in Book Two. When Mako and Asami are dating, it is likely that Mako’s reference to Asami being a more practical choice could be his interest in her physically and her wealth. A source of stable support that he would naturally ensure Bolin got a share of. (That sure was a nice pool, wasn’t it Mako?) But love itself is shown when Mako pursues Korra romantically when she has no funds to offer. Not even her status as the Avatar meant a thing to Mako when Korra lost her bending, he proclaimed his love for her regardless of what status she had. This came into a much larger focus at the end of Book Two when they mutually break up and he says “I’ll always love you.” Straight from the heart and something she told him in turn. One of the usual standards for Mako is his steadfastness to protect Korra, which is out of his love for her.

[Abilities / Strengths & Weaknesses]:
Firebending. By using his natural gift to manipulate the element of fire in almost any way he can imagine through the use of his chi and the right motions, martial arts and/or boxing, Mako proves a very formidable combatant in the realm of bending. Having delved deeper into the art, Mako has also learned the sub-school of firebending: Lightning. Called the ‘cold-blooded fire’, Mako is able to shoot lightning through his hands as well as redirect any form of electrical current in another direction by letting go through his body without harming himself.

It is likely that Mako can be just as skilled with the martial art used in firebending (Northern Shaolin Kung-Fu) while unarmed.

Aside from combat oriented abilities, Mako is also a detective at the end of Book Two and has shown a knack for picking up clues, trails, and connections that others have missed.

Mako’s weaknesses lie within his taciturn personality, making it hard to get along with those he doesn’t know and could probably benefit from. Empathy is a problem for him in general since he focuses more on facts than people. On the flip side, if he becomes too emotionally involved as he did with Korra; Mako will start to become reckless.

[Limited Powers]: I wouldn’t think his firebending would need a limitation considering the game casts and their abilities, but I’m more than willing to go with whatever the mods may suggest as appropriate.

[Other Important Facts]: I’d like Mako to come in with these few items aside from his regular clothing: The red scarf that once belonged to his father, a picture of him and Korra, smiling together, and one stuffed sky bison plushie Korra gave him. (shoved at really). If not possible, then that’s okay.

[Samples]:
♦ Thread: Test Drive Meme

♦ Post:
[A slightly irritated sigh is heard after Mako wipes off any of remaining water on his face from being soaked earlier. Then he clears his throat before speaking clearly.]

So this Piedra Roja gem is what everyone’s after because it might let them return home. I doubt it, but does anyone know just how many shards there are of it? Sounds like it could be huge.

[It’s a long shot, but he needs to get all the information about the ruby that he can.]

While I’m at it, how many crews are out there anyway? I’ve seen a couple, but there’s got to be more than that. [Get a count and work out the odds, if he could get those early on then he’s off to a good start.]